Flashback – 5 years ago: Operation Woolfe is mission accomplished by Nomads
Airbus UK Broughton 0
Connah’s Quay Nomads 1 (Woolfe 12)
Welsh Premier League – February 20, 2016
Nathan Woolfe’s 12th minute goal was enough to seal a return to winning ways for Nomads in this televised derby at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium – but Airbus must have been flummoxed as to how they ended up pointless.
Woolfe made the scoresheet for the first time in a Quay shirt, sending a half-volley into the bottom right corner of the net after a John Danby free kick was not cleared.
From then on, the first half became difficult for the visitors, not only due to the opposition but also a persistent strong wind.
A goal behind and at home, Airbus soon began to turn the heat on.
Kevin Monteiro made a great run and nearly reached the penalty area, but a Sean Smith tackle saved the day.
The Wingmakers then enjoyed a flurry of corners, from which there were some frantic scrambles in the box they could not capitalise on.
Airbus’ best effort came from a Jordan Barrow free kick on 36 minutes, Danby on hand to make a great save, pushing it onto the bar and over for a corner.
Nomads coped well with the pressure, but were tested to their limits with the wind against them and the Wingmakers attacking ferociously for the last five minutes of the first half.
Despite winning five corners before the interval – including a James Murphy effort which curled against the crossbar – the hosts could not get past Danby and went in trailing.
Half-time: Airbus 0 Nomads 1
When play resumed, Airbus played most of their football in Nomads’ half. The wind had dropped, and gave spectators the chance to see some real football being played.
Monteiro continued to be tricky, but Man of the Match, Paul Linwood, made a vital clearance on 48 minutes when the Airbus man got just yards from goal.
The Nomads were then unlucky when Wes Baynes’ free kick from 20 yards hit the crossbar.
Quay made a substitution with Ashley Ruane introduced in place of Jamie Crowther, who despite not playing a full game had made a great contribution for the 70 minutes he had been involved in.
Airbus spectators and players alike were rueing a missed chance in the 84th minute, when a cross rolled across Nomads’ goalmouth but no-one could convert.
Danby then made another great save to deny Arnaldo Mendes.
Airbus had a great opportunity with just two minutes of normal time to play, when a free kick was awarded just outside Nomads’ penalty area. The kick went low, where it was blocked by the visiting wall.
With four minutes of additional time given, Nomads were desperate to hang on, yet they almost added a second when Ruane made a great solo run towards the Airbus goal and struck a powerful left-footed shot which rattled the left post.
And that was the end of a competitive encounter.
Airbus: James Coates, Mike Pearson (Arnaldo Mendes 79), Jonny Spittle, Kevin Monteiro, Lee Owens, Matty McGinn, Jordan Barrow, Tony Gray (Ryan Wignall 73), Chris Budrys, James Murphy (Ryan Wade 73), James Owen.
Nomads: John Danby, Wes Baynes, George Horan, Paul Linwood, Sean Smith, Danny Harrison, Nathan Woolfe, Jamie Crowther (Ashley Ruane 68), Callum Morris, Robert Parry (Chris Rimmer 53), Les Davies.
Report: Nomads website, many thanks – http://www.the-nomads.co.uk/